The contenders face Phoenix challenges

Published: Saturday, November 10, 2012 at 01:25 PM.

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Don’t be misled by the number “500” in the title.

At Phoenix International Raceway, it’s kilometers, not miles. The Advocare 500 is really only 312 laps around a mile track.

Therein lies the unexpected complication for Sprint Cup points leader Jimmie Johnson, who not only qualified 24thbut has been unimpressive by every measure in the days leading up to the ninth of 10 Chase events.

Johnson, the only driver ever to win five consecutive Cup championships (2006-10), is not one to be counted out, but this can only be seen as an imposing challenge. Johnson seized control of the top spot by winning at both Martinsville and Texas.

In both instances, he started first as well as finished there.

Johnson can work his way up near the front, if not by finding something in his No. 48 Chevy that hasn’t, to this point, been apparent, then by taking a strategic shortcut – passing up tires, say, or just changing two – that will secure him track position.

What he can’t do is play it safe – maybe “orthodox” is a better word -- which he could do in the two races leading up to this one.

At Phoenix International Raceway, it’s kilometers, not miles. The Advocare 500 is really only 312 laps around a mile track.

Therein lies the unexpected complication for Sprint Cup points leader Jimmie Johnson, who not only qualified 24thbut has been unimpressive by every measure in the days leading up to the ninth of 10 Chase events.

Johnson, the only driver ever to win five consecutive Cup championships (2006-10), is not one to be counted out, but this can only be seen as an imposing challenge. Johnson seized control of the top spot by winning at both Martinsville and Texas.

In both instances, he started first as well as finished there.

Johnson can work his way up near the front, if not by finding something in his No. 48 Chevy that hasn’t, to this point, been apparent, then by taking a strategic shortcut – passing up tires, say, or just changing two – that will secure him track position.

What he can’t do is play it safe – maybe “orthodox” is a better word -- which he could do in the two races leading up to this one.

The only misstep in Johnson’s Chase to date was a 17that Talladega. In the other seven stops in the NASCAR race-offs, Johnson’s average finish is 2.57. The overall norm is 4.375.

Brad Keselowski’s average Chase finish is 5.25, but he can’t breathe easily when the race commences, either. Keselowski starts 14th, but it’s nothing unusual. His Chase average is 19.9. He’s only qualified better than 14ththree times, never better than eighth.

This is standard operating procedure for Keselowski. For Johnson, it’s “how in the world did the perfect plan go wrong?”

Keselowski seemed unconcerned. He was wearing that look: “What? Me worry?” Whether it’s the version of the soon-to-be champion, or that of Mad Magazine’s Alfred E. Neuman, remains to be seen.

“I’m running to win, whatever that means,” Keselowski said, grinning. “Win the race and things become a lot easier. You don’t have to worry about those things.”